Eitan R

Reviewed a 2011 Mercury I4 Premier on Dec 16, 2011

Performance: Very impressive for an American-made 4-cylinder. These engines used to be downright horrendous, but the Milan's 2.5-liter delivers smooth, brisk acceleration without making all the noise I'd come to expect. Handling is even more impressive. This car just constantly begs you to drive a little bit faster, and to corner just a little bit more quickly. You have to stop yourself and say "Whoa! I'm in an American family sedan!" Build Quality: Surprisingly, I had very few issues with the interior quality of the Milan. A small trim piece to the left of the steering wheel, which stands out as cheap, flimsy, and poorly placed, for one, and I feel that the HVAC controls could be better placed, as they're distracting to use while driving due to their poor location. Appearance: Ford tried to strike an even middle ground between the Ford Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ with the Milan, and the end result is skewed a bit more toward Fusion. Since the styling is really just a mashup of two conservatively-styled cars, the end result is VERY conservative, very bland, very vanilla.... Cost of Ownership: Dealer maintenance rates are reasonable, and fuel economy is on par with the class. Fun Factor: Surprisingly, the Milan is quite enjoyable to drive. The 4- cylinder is peppy and cornering is sharp and precise. I really like the ride as well.